Gas purification



Patented Apr. 14, 1931 res rarest" DAVID L.,JACOBSON, OF EITTSIBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KOPPERS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE Y GAS PURIFICATION N 0 Drawing.

My invention relates to the purification of gas, such as fuel gas or other containing hydrogen sulphide or analogous acidic impurities by means of an alkaline solution cir- 5 culated through a cycle comprising an absorption stage and an actilication stage. My invention relates especially to processes of this nature employing alkaline solutions containing small amounts of certain metallic 1o salts in suspension or solution, for the pur pose of promoting the liberation of tree sulphur during actilication of the solutions.

An object'oi my invention is to provide a process of gas purification wherein side re- 15 actions are substantially eliminated. v

A second object of my invention is to reduce the consumption of alkali in gas purification processes of the character described.

A further object of my inventionis to inv crease the production of tree sulphur in the actiiication of sulphidesin alkaline solution or suspension.

In gas purification processes involving the use e'l simple alkaline solutions, for example, th se covered by U. S. Patents Nos; 1,389,980 to J. Rams-burg and 1,390,037, to myself, hydrogen sulphide is absorbedfrom the gas as sodium hydrosulphide, according to the following reaction:

(l) l-LS Na CO NaHS NaHCO hen the solution containing sodium hydrosulphide is subjected to aeration in the actification stage, the actih'er air removes hydrogen sulphide from the system and causes a reversal of this reaction with consequent regeneration of the alkali.

More recent gas purification processes have been based on the use of alkaline solutions containing certain metallic compounds in solution or suspension.

The metallic compounds used for this purpose are compounds, such as the oxide, hydrate, or sulphide, of the essentially divalent elements in the eighth group of the periodic system, namely iron, nickel and cobalt. In such processes, the oxidation 0t sodium hydrosulphide is caused to result in the libertion of sulphur in elemental form. This sulphur is then separated from the liquid by Application filed January 11, 1927. Serial No. 160,5Q8. a

flotation. The oxidation of the absorbed H 8 may take place through sulphidation and oxidation of the metallic compound, as in the case of alkaline iron suspensions, or the oxidation may take place under the catalytic influence of the metallic compound, as in the case of alkaline solutions containing small amounts oi nickel sulphide.

in all such processes of gaspuritication,

Whether based on the use'ot simple alkaline solutions or involving the utilization of suspensions or solutions of the class just do scribed, a certain amount of alkali is consumed in irreversible side reactions, such as the formationjof sodium thiosulphate. But itlias been shown that metallic compounds that have utility in promoting the liberation oi free'sul'phur exert an influence upon side reactions ofthe character indicated, resulting in greatly increased formation of thiosulphate as compared With the processes in which a simple alkaline solution is-used, and

it is toward the reduction of such secondary v reactions in gas purification processesinvolv- 7 ing alkaline suspensions of metallic'compounds,

that my invention is directed.

I have discovered that the presence of a small amount of a lead compound in the a lk-a line liquid Will retard the formation of sodium thiosulphate. Accordingly, I circulate an alkaline suspension of a metallic COPP- pound such as iron oxide and containing a lead compound over the flowing in suit able contact apparatus for absorptionof inrpurities in the gas and through further apparatus wherein the suspension is subjected to aeration or the like for actiiication. Such aeration is preferably accomplished by meansof finely comminuted air. The actified liquid may then be returned to contact With further amounts of gas;

lVith respect to the specific compound used for the production of sodium thiosulphatc formation, I have found that a great number of lead compounds may be used. The lead may be present as base-forming element,as in lead acetate, orthe lead may be present in the acid radical, asin sodium plumbite or sodium plumbate. The-leadmay be present in any of the various valen'ces' of that element so small that I am justified inbelieving theinfiuence to be catalytic in character. To

illustrate the use of the lead compounds and the nature of results accomplished, even when extremely small amounts are used, the following results are cited:

Then a 3% solution of sodium carbonate containing 0.5% of Fe o in suspension was subjected to the action of H S, 37.6% of the H 8 absorbed was converted to sodium thiosulphate; whereas, in. the presence of 0.3% of lead acetate, the amount of sodium thiosulphate formed was reduced to only 12.3%

of the H 3 absorbed. Analyses of the treat- 7 ed solutions showedthat the hydrogen sulphide is not oxidized to any other further fixed salts, such as sodium sulphate.

I- may add leadcompound to a liquid purification systemin any of a number of Ways, as for example, by direct addition to the systemin.operatiom (2-) by making a'solution of a lead compound in water and addingit to the system, adding such solution to a solution of alkali and adding the resultant solution tothe system,, (4) by grinding the metallic compound-to beused in the gas purification system inthe presence of an aqueous solution of lead compound, or (5) by grind ing themixture of iron oxide or equivalent metallic element and a sohd lead compound and subsequently adding the mixture to the gas purification system. The'alkalinity f my liquid is preferably fron'i 1 to 3%, with iron compound. or the like, in amount up to. 2% insuspension therein.

The process of my invention provides for the reduction of the formation of sodium thiosulphate asa product of side reaction in the purification of gas with alkaline solutions or suspensions. My invention-has additional advantages in that increased amounts of free sulphur are liberated and the consumption of alkaliis reduced. 1

My invention is not limited to the specific instances hereinabove recited-by way of example, but is to be construed within the scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The process of' purifying a gas from hydrogen sulphide and analogous-impurities which comprises washingthe gas with an alkaline absorbent liquid containing an iron compound and lead compound.

2'. The process of purifying a gasfrom hydrogen sulphide and analogousimpurities a leadcompound.

which comprises washing the gas with an alkaline suspension of a compound of a metal by means of an alkaline liquid, the step which comprises aerating the alkaline liquid containing hydrogen sulphide absorbed from the-gas in the presenceofa lead-compound.

4. The process of oxidizing metallic sulphides in an alkaline suspension which com prises aerating the suspension in the presence of a leadcompound.

5. The process of purifying a gas from hydrogen sulphide which comprises washing the gas with. an alkaline solution-for absorption of hydrogen. sulphide and subsequently regeneratingsaid solution by aeration in the presence of alead compound.

6. The process of purifying a gas from hydrogen sulphide and analogous impurities whichv comprises washing the gas with an alkaline suspension of an iron compound, containing also a lead compound.

7. The process of purifying a gas from hydrogen sulphide and analogous impurities which comprises recirculating an alkaline suspensionof an ironcompound containing also a lead compound over the flowing gas. and through anactification stage. i l

8, A, liquid for gas purification which comprisesan alkaline liquid containing an iron compound. and a. lead compound.

9;v A liquid for gas purification which comprises analkaline suspension of acompound ofa metal the sulphide of which isnormally insoluble inalkaline solution and containing DAVID. L. .L ACOBSON. 

